Russia
is ready to host the meeting of oil-producing countries to discuss the
stabilization of production, but the final decision on the place and
date of the talks is yet to be made, Energy Minister Alexander Novak
said in an interview with the Rossiya 24TV channel.
"Currently, different countries are voicing their support to this
agreement [the stabilization of oil production —TASS]. But as for the
date and venue the consultations are still ongoing. For its part, Russia
is ready, if there is such a solution and other countries agree with
it, to receive Energy Ministers in order to hold final consultations and
to make the decision," he said.
According to the minister, the oil producing countries have agreed that the meeting will take place in the second half of March.
"And finally we will have to make a decision about reaching this agreement", he stressed.
Novak added that consultations are underway between the countries,
which are members and non-members of OPEC, the leading oil exporters in
the world. Consultations are based on the agreements that were reached
in Qatar on February 16. Then the oil producers agreed not to increase
production volume in 2016 from the level of January this year.
(Itar-TASS)